Best restaurants in Ensenada

Conchas de Piedra

★ Michelin$$$Seafood, Mexican

This rustic-chic collaboration from the people behind Deckman’s and the winery Casa de Piedra brings together what both places do best: seafood and sparkling wine. The outdoor dining area is casual and inviting thanks to communal tables, café lights strung overhead and a jaunty instrumental playlist. Diners do not need to opt for the full tasting and instead should look to the compact a la carte menu. Sourcing pristine seafood, the kitchen excels with raw or otherwise light preparations in the form of aguachiles and ceviches. A tray (or two) of perfect oysters matched with a crisp and bubbly B

Olivea Farm to Table

★ Michelin$$$$Contemporary

Set inside Casa Olivea hotel, this charming restaurant displays a confident simplicity and purity of flavor on a frequently changing seasonal menu. It wears its farm-to-table bona fides on its sleeve thanks to pristine produce that arrives daily from nearby acreage that is organically and sustainably tended. Guests select between multicourse vegetarian or seafood-forward menus, with a handful of à la carte offerings, and will find equal satisfaction in main dishes like their daily catch with a celeriac puree or grilled octopus atop mole blanco. Desserts, like caramelized plums with a purple ba

Lunario

★ Michelin$$$$Mexican, Contemporary

Open seasonally and set on the grounds of Lomita winery, Lunario is tucked inside a greenhouse-like building. It's a stunning first impression to walk along the winding path to discover this chic, modern space where an open kitchen draws attention and a few counter seats are available for those who enjoy a front-row seat. Chef Sheyla Alvarado presides over two multicourse tasting menus with a seasonal, contemporary and vegetable-forward focus, and many ingredients are sourced from their own farm. Her cooking is creative and bold, evidenced by dishes like the duo of Baja oysters juxtaposing swe

Animalón

★ Michelin$$$$Mexican, Contemporary

Many restaurants claim to be transporting, but how many deliver on the promise? Animalón certainly does. In season, this spot shines with an al fresco dining space under a centuries-old oak tree (during colder months, they move to a pop-up space). It's the very definition of tranquility, yet with owner Javier Plascencia at the helm, it's equally thrilling.The contemporary Mexican cuisine pulls influences from all over the country. The kitchen's vision is apparent in dishes like beer-braised barbacoa wrapped in a banana leaf, steamed and smoked in a pig's bladder, then served tableside for a dr

Casa Marcelo

Bib Gourmand$$Mexican

Casa Marcelo's welcoming facade is enhanced with a flourish of bougainvillea, while the dining area is a courtyard shaded by wood slats and dense trees. This local favorite is owned by Marcelo Castro, a fourth-generation cheesemaker for Ramonetti cheeses, produced east of Ensenada in the Valle de Ojos Negros. It's a popular spot for breakfast with a menu that features local ingredients from the ranch, including the artisanal cheese used to garnish the signature chilaquiles. Come afternoon, lunch items are available and worth sticking around for. The tostada de camaron is a lovely balance of fr

La Concheria

Bib Gourmand$$Mexican, Seafood

La Concheria is located at Plaza Santo Tomás, once a winery in the center of Ensenada and dating back to 1911. The reclaimed and renovated district features warehouses now housing retail and restaurants, like this worthwhile spot. The restaurant is a slender space with brick flooring, teal walls, and a metal roof. In addition to a few tables there is a counter offering a handful of seats facing the bar and kitchen at the end.The menu is focused and offers items such as oysters, ceviche, and aguachile; as well as warming entrees like the fideo seco en salsa poblano. The baked pasta is prepared

Sabina

Bib Gourmand$$Seafood, Mexican

This charming restaurant is the full-service offshoot of local culinary legend Sabina Bandera's acclaimed mariscos cart, La Guerrerense, located across the street; founded in 1960, and thrust into the spotlight over the years by Ms. Bandera's creativity. The mouthwatering tostadas offered here at Sabina are identical to those served at the cart and include the version spread with bacalao ceviche and heaped with tender, chopped octopus. Hot items are a bonus here, as in the pozole mariscos. The delightful bowlful features a caldo colorado broth stocked with an abundance of seafood, hominy and d

HumoySal

Bib Gourmand$$Seafood, Mexican

The Hussong family is well known in the Ensenada area for their long-running Sano's steakhouse. Located just next door, this sleek box of a dining room bears its own distinct profile. A white tiled open kitchen and bar area are fronted by tables and concrete flooring. The bar menu is displayed on a wall-mounted letterboard and offers local beers and cocktails like the mezcal sour.The menu is concise, focused on seafood, and is impressively prepared. Sashimi, tiradito and oysters are nice precursors to fresh pasta with shrimp, pizza with octopus or the very clever and highly popular tuna al pas

Villa Torél

Bib Gourmand$$$$Mexican, Contemporary

Chef Alfredo Villanueva is at the helm of this spot tucked within the Santo Tomás winery. Framed by lavender bushes and citrus trees, it's entirely outside (read: best visited in season) and shares views of the rolling hills. The breezy ambience is echoed in the casually sophisticated Mexican menu with contemporary French and European touches, as in a crudo of horse mackerel served with blue corn tostadas. Rice with pastrami lengua is a creative dish that manages to be perfectly satisfying, while bold flavors appear in a dish of roasted eggplant with shredded smoked bluefin tuna. Dishes are si

La Cocina de Doña Esthela

Bib Gourmand$Mexican

From chef/owner Blanca Esthela Martínez Bueno, what began with humble roots in 2008 making burritos for local vineyard workers has evolved into one of the most famous restaurants in the Valle de Guadalupe. It's loaded with charm, from the heavy wood tables to the boisterous crowd of visitors and locals. Breakfast is served all day, and while a no-reservations policy means a wait, it's worth it to sample dialed-in cooking with hearty portions. Get the café de olla and dig into the menu where you'll find huevos of all kinds alongside chilaquiles and gorditas rellenas. House specialties include f

El Paisa

$Mexican

Serving tacos and tortas, and focused on adobada or asada, El Paisa is a tasty taco recommendation. The crew is always busy grilling beef and green onions, and roasting spice-rubbed pork in a vertical rotisserie at this tidy spot with a few tables. It's all supremely fresh, as everything is hot off the grill here. You can even watch as staff members slice the roasting meat right into your tortilla. Dress with your choice of salsas, then add chopped onion, cilantro and other flourishes to taste.

Madre

$$$Mexican

Comfortable and amiable, Madre is from chefs and partners Miguel Bahena and Carolina Verdugo. Found in a white stucco home with a terra-cotta tiled roof, the dining area's layout features two small rooms and a bar area with the kitchen on display at the back. Decorative elements include polished wood plank floors, tables dressed in cloth runners and light walls accented with artwork.The concise menu offers seafood starters, such as the pepita and-sesame crusted shrimp plated with a chileatole sauce made from shrimp stock and slivers of nopal and onion. Pasta and roasted meats round out the men

COMAL Restaurante

$$Mexican

This all-day restaurant is located in the heart of trendy Plaza Santo Tomás. Under the soaring warehouse ceilings, high-top bar seating wraps around a small open kitchen where chefs regularly press and griddle tortillas on a small comal. From casual lunches to heartier dinners, regional inspiration is far-ranging, though Oaxaca is a frequent focus (think assorted moles, crispy tlayudas and warm tetelas). Chocolate flan with salted toffee caramel makes for a lovingly sweet, light finale. Service is notably friendly and accommodating.

Tacos Mi Ranchito El Fenix

$Mexican

Tacos Mi Ranchito El Fenix is a streetside kiosk done up in white and red tile. This perch offers a handful of counter seats, as well as two tables off to the side. The counter surrounds the prep area where one corner is devoted to the frying of the fish fillets for the signature taco here, the taco pescado. This crispy, delicious treat is served unadorned and invites dressing up from the various garnishes.

Manzanilla

$$regional, mediterranean

Manzanilla offers a truly worthwhile dining experience brought to you by chefs and partners Benito Molina and Solange Muris. A local favorite, the establishment feels like a world unto itself, located within a gated area and unwinding into a prettily arranged courtyard area and spaciously arranged dining rooms anchored by an ornate, carved wood bar. Speaking of drinks, an extensive selection of classic cocktails is on offer, as well as wines from the Valle de Guadalupe.The dishes lean simple but remain elevated and refined, showcasing a mastery of flavor and impeccable quality with dishes like

🕐 24/7

Tacos Marco Antonio

$Mexican

Partially open-air with concrete flooring and a metal roof, the industrial bones of this taqueria harken back to this setting's roots as a fish canning warehouse started by Marco Antonio's father in 1965. Order at the rear station, then pull up a metal chair at one of the simple tables. The extensive menu of seafood tacos includes chicharrón de pescado, carnitas de atún and camarón al chipotle. Taco pescado empanizado offers a tender, warm and golden tortilla topped with a breaded fish fillet that is dressed with onions and a squirt of spiced crema. Shredded cabbage and a host of salsas are ar

Restaurante Punta Morro

$$$$Mexican

This hotel dining room has an enviable location facing the ocean. The room is intimate in scale and boasts a wall of windows offering a gorgeous view. Time it right and you can watch the sun set while enjoying dinner.The menu offers a range of items to please various palates including vegetarian items, house-made pasta and grilled steaks. Yet this team's cuisine also has a creative streak. The empanadas Baja are a highly recommended starter; made from blue corn masa they are delicately crisped and stuffed with finely diced lobster that is seasoned chorizo-style. Seafood preparations are a spec

Ophelia

$$mediterranean

El Sauzal de Rodríguez's restaurants are typically laser-focused on seafood, but Ophelia offers something a little different. This spot with light walls, wood ceiling, and dark tiled floor, features a Mediterranean-themed menu with items ranging from salads, pastas, and pizza to entrees like roasted octopus, fish in mole, roasted quail, and lamb shank. Lasana de Susana, named for the chef's mother, is presented in a cast iron skillet. Its layers of fresh pasta are loaded with a coarsely ground meat ragu studded with diced mushrooms, and a rich cheese for a deliciously comforting dish that is a

🕐 Mo-Su 12:00-22:00

Primitivo

$$$$Contemporary

Indeed, the name says it all at this rugged space that's down a dirt road, past a fence draped with wine bottles. and situated under a sprawling oak tree that is three centuries old. The kitchen is anchored by a large fire pit where ingredients are cooked in cast-iron dishes or directly on the flame. Chef Carolina Jimenéz brings a unique approach to this rustic menu rooted in local sourcing. There are oysters to start before guests pick a protein, then savor multiple courses sized for sharing and utilizing every part of the fish or animal. The cooking is earnest, focused, and clever. Dessert i

Amapola

$$$$Mexican, Contemporary

Dinner at the Banyan Tree Veya resort begins with an adventure. Guests race up the mountainside in a rugged courtesy vehicle and ascend to the highest peak. The stylish hotel enjoys expansive views of the valley, and the intimate, quiet setting borders on sacred. Off to the side, find a room where a large U-shaped counter encircles a kitchen team busy at work preparing a contemporary Mexican tasting menu that features quality, locally sourced seafood. Pristine oysters, clams, tuna, abalone and crab are prepared with panache and often with international influences. A generous wine pairing works

Deckman's En El Mogor

$$$$Mexican

It's a short drive off the main road to the Cavas del Mogor property, home of this flagship restaurant. As is common in this region, the dining space is outdoors, built on a platform with tables shaded by trees and a roof lit with cafe lights. In the middle, a live fire kitchen takes center stage. Drew Deckman's cooking is contemporary Mexican, as in a tempura fried soft shell crab on a bed of dressed arugula and sorrel leaves with avocado purée and a Pilsner foam. Main dishes, like the short rib or smoked chicken with potatoes and sauerkraut, lean hearty. Ingredients are top notch and there i

Envero en el Valle

$$$$Mexican

Add this gorgeous outdoor restaurant to your must-visit list. Located at the Las Nubes winery, you'll enjoy dramatic, sweeping views of The Valley from your table, while overhead, sun shades and café lights add to the ambience.The kitchen team makes good use of local produce and seafood while also favoring grilled meats for this contemporary Mexican cuisine, available both à la carte and as a tasting menu. Polenta finished on the plancha has a nice, crispy exterior before being topped with shredded braised beef and stewed cherry tomatoes. Local crab shines in a house-made taco served with a br